Dixon lifts Heels

CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina is just one win from returning to the men's soccer College Cup for the second straight year - but by the slimmest of margins.

Sophomore forward Alex Dixon scored the only goal with 18 minutes remaining in the first half, and that was all that was needed for the No. 4 Tar Heels (15-2-3) to defeat Indiana (11-10-2) 1-0 on Sunday at Fetzer Field.

"This wasn't our most beautiful performance, for sure," North Carolina coach Elmar Bolowich said. "Next Friday, we need to see a different fire and spirit to advance."

North Carolina will host Drake, which defeated Boston College 6-4 in another third-round match Sunday, at 6 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals.

UNC's contest Sunday was a game of equal opportunities - the teams' scoring opportunities were nearly the same. Though the Tar Heels had a 14-9 advantage in shots over the Hoosiers, many of them never had a chance of coming within a few yards of the goal, let alone getting past the goalkeeper.

The difference came in what each team did with its opportunities. Indiana missed several headers from just feet from the net and let several corner kicks sail over open forwards.

UNC made good on only one chance, but it was the difference in a game otherwise filled with what-ifs.

From just inside midfield, midfielder Cameron Brown lofted a beautiful pass to Dixon, who had beaten two defenders. Dixon took a step back and let the defenders go by, then found himself in a one-on-one situation with goalie Luis Soffner. Dixon kicked the ball underneath Soffner from 6 yards for his seventh goal of the season and second in the postseason.

"We were trying to utilize [my speed] as another dimension," Dixon said.

"It's important for us that we get that first goal because if we do, we can hold them scoreless," UNC defender Jordan Graye said. "We go into games thinking, 'We're going to shut this team out.' "

The Hoosiers' best chance for a goal came with just over two minutes remaining in the half, as Darren Yeagle found himself with a wide-open net and the ball coming right for his forehead.

On the attempt, however, Yeagle weakly headed the ball wide and it went out of bounds, leaving several Hoosiers to clutch their heads in agony.

"We should've gotten to that one," Indiana coach Mike Freitag said. "If you don't convert your chances, you can't win."

Once the Tar Heels got to halftime, the percentages drastically favored them - they have not lost a lead when ahead at halftime, and Indiana was 0-4 when trailing at halftime.

UNC goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty carried the team the rest of the way with timely saves. Haggerty also did a good job in corralling errant passes and snapping off corner kicks, preventing the Hoosiers from making something out of nothing.

Most of Indiana's opportunities came only when the Tar Heels suffered a defensive lapse or had a turnover passing the ball.

Haggerty finished with four saves. Soffner had six for the Hoosiers.

Afterwards, North Carolina players shared high-fives and hugs, but that was the extent of it--after all, this is just old hat for them. And it will be the final win if they play as they did today.

North Carolina 1, Indiana 0

Second half: Dixon (Graye, Brown), 27:01.

Yellow cards: Indiana 3 (Meyer, Soffner, team ), North Carolina 1 (Farfan).

Records: Indiana 11-10-2, North Carolina 15-2-3.

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